I got to Washington from my Hawaii experience in the summer of 1992, and I remained there through 1993, the first year the Clinton couple came. I am afraid I have never liked the Clinton couple much, for a mixture of objective and subjective reasons. I also think Mrs Clinton’s bid for the Presidency may have been constitutionally barred by the 22nd Amendment as she has been married to a two-term President and may have been considered the same legal person by the authors of the 22nd Amendment. (Suppose Barack Obama becomes a two-term President; can his wife then run on her own and have him campaign for her? Before his term ends or even after?)

But I did hear Mrs Clinton’s speech at the Denver convention the other day, and I was grateful to hear her quote the fine words of Harriet Tubman about slaves running to freedom:

“If you hear the dogs, keep going.
If you see the torches in the woods, keep going.
If they’re shouting after you, keep going.
Don’t ever stop. Keep going.
If you want a taste of freedom, keep going.”

Harriet Tubman (c. 1820-1913)

That is indeed what the individual must do in face of all tyrannies: keep going.

Subroto Roy

Postscript: February 10 2009. I think Mrs Clinton has been very sporting since her loss to Barack Obama , and that she may become as good a foreign minister for the United States as there has been. Hence the cancellation of the sentence above.

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